Excavating machine



March 19, 1963 v. s. PENOTE ETAL EXCAVATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1961 .I 1 1 IN IiM INVENTORS VmczmS. PENOTE m March 1963 v. s. PENOTE ETAL EXCAVATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1961 Tam, R13. 1 TM n rr rmsys March 19, 1963 v. s. PENOTE ETAL EXCAVATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 14, 1961 INVENTORS Vmcm'r 5. 'Pzuo-rr. am By Fnnun J. FETiNER Tune, Tel

1 aired rates l atent 338L555 Patented Mar. 19, 1963 inc This invention relates in general to mobile excavating machines, and more particularly "to discharging conveyor mechanism for such machines.

' During the excavation of a trench or the like with an excavating machine, the digging unit of the machine scoops up the soil being excavated and generally transfers it to a discharge conveyor which is usually adapted to transmit the excavated material or spoil, into a pile alongside the excavation. Such excavated material is generally utilized for back-filling the excavation after the desired objects, such as tile, cables, etc., are laid in the excavation. Oftentimes it is desirable or necessary that the objects being covered in the excavation be initially covered with a layer of relatively fine soil or back-filling material, after which the remainder of the excavation may be filled with heavier back-filling material.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel dirt separator mechanism for an unloading conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel dirt separator mechanism which may be adjusted on the discharge end of an unloading conveyor so as to vary the degree of separation of the various'sizes of particles of excavated material or spoil being discharged by the unloading conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine embodying an unloading or discharge conveyor, at the discharge end of which is provided a novel dirt separator, which is operable to direct the fines or relatively small particles of excavated material into a pile close to the side of the trench, while directing coarser material and rocks into a pile disposed further from the side of the trench, thus providing for the initial backfllling of the trench with the relatively fine material, after which the coarser material can be filled into the trench on top of the relatively fine material.

Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished in accordance with the instant invention by the provision of a deflector plate mounted on the discharge end of an unloading conveyor in transversely extending relation thereto, and adapted at its upper end to extend into the stream of spoil emitted by the conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, generally perspective, elevational view of an excavating machine including an unloading or discharge conveyor embodying the dirt separator mechanism of the invention secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the dirt deflector plate of the separator mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 3 is en end-elevational view of the deflector plate taken generally from the right hand end of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmenary, top plan view of a conveyor mechanism having the dirt separator mechanism of the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational View of the conveyor mounted dirt separator mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4;

FlG. 6 is an enlarged, side-elevational view of the mounting bracket for supporting the dirt deflector plate on the discharge end of the conveyor mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of a portion of the mounting bracket of FIG. 6, and illustrating in particular the boss for pivotally mounting the deflector plate;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively, side-elevatioual and broken end-elevational views of a modified form of the dirt deflector plate of the dirt separator mechanism of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively a side-elevational View and a broken end-elevational view of a further modification of a dirt deflector plate of the dirt separator mechanism of the invention.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, there is partially illustrated a conventional endless digging unit 12 of a trench excavating machine with an endless unloading conveyor =14 movably mounted for lateral adjustment on a generally horizontally extending boom 16 of the machine, for receiving the excavated soil or spoil from the digging unit, and discharging it to a side of the excavation. Reference may be had to United States Patent No. 2,598,339, issued May 27, 1952, to Albert R. Askue, for a more detailed description of an excavating machine and associated unloading conveyor suitable for the instant invention.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is provided on the discharge end of the unloading'conveyor mechanism 14 a dirt separator apparatus 18 for directing the fines or relatively small particles of spoil material into a pile comparatively close to the corresponding side of the trench, and for directing the coarser material and rocks into a pile further from the side of the trench. Such dirt separator mechanism 18 in principle isan adjustable sheet or plate 20 that is disposed transverse and generally below the stream of dirt leaving the discharge end of the conveyor. The deflector plate Ztl is preferably adjustable, so that as it is adjusted upwardly into the stream of dirt emerging from the discharge end of the conveyor, it stops lumps of dirtof a predetermined size and directs such lumps of that size and below into a pile along and relatively close to the corresponding side of the excavation, while the larger lumps or coarse material tumbles over the barrier or bounce up into the discharge stream and are carried over into another pile further away from the side of the excavation. The dirt deflector plate 2% is adjustably mounted on the discharge end of the conveyor by means of a pair of transversely spaced mounting brackets 22 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7) which are secured to the discharge end ofthe conveyor frame, as at 2 and which provide trunnion or boss means 25 for rotatably mounting the deflector plate 20 thereon. The lower portion of the mounting bracket members 22 are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 28 therethrough, which are adapted to coact with complementary bossed openings 29 in the confronting side of the side flanges 39 on the deflector plate,-and to receive holding means therein, such as for instance a pin, bolt or the like, for holding the dirt deflector plate 26 in predetermined position with respect to the mounting brackets 22,'and with respect to the stream of spoil material adapted to be discharged from the end of the unloading conveyor 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the deflector plate 20 per se, preferably comprises a plate-like body 34 which may be formed from, for instance, tone-quarter inch steel plate, and is rearwardly or inwardly curved at its upper end, as shown in FIG. 2. Attached to the body 34 are the aforementioned side flanges 30 with each of such side flanges being provided with an aligned opening 36 therethrough. Each of said openings is adapted for alignment with the boss 26 on the inner side of the respective bracket plate 22, and is adapted to receive a pin, bolt or the like therethrough, for pivotally mounting the dirt deflector plate Zn on the brackets 22. Disposed below the opening 36 in each of the side flanges 31 of the deflector plate are the aforementioned bossed openings 29 which are located along an arc of a circle, the center of curvature of which is opening 36, and which are adapted for alignment with respective openings 28 adjacent the bottom portion of the respective mounting bracket plate 22. It will be seen, therefore, that the dirt deflector plate 20 is maintained in generally spaced relation to the mounting bracket means by the boss structure 26 and 29 on respectively the mounting brackets and the deflector plate.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is disclosed a modified form of the deflector plate, which embodies a generally planar body plate 40 instead of the curved plate of the first described embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose a further modification of the invention, wherein the deflector plate body 44 is of shorter lengthwise dimension as compared to the first described embodiment, but in other respects is generally similar to the first described embodiment.

In practice, the deflector plate is raised or pivoted a predetermined amount into the stream of excavated material emitting from the discharge end of the unloading conveyor, causing the relatively small lumps and fines to be directed into a pile near the trench, and another pile of larger pieces and rocks further from the trench. This action is aided by the manner in which the dirt comes off the conveyor. The lower portion of the dirt stream is generally richer in the fines or relatively small particles, while the larger lumps tend to move towards the top of the stream. This is because the larger lumps roll and do not move as fast on the endless belt of the conveyor as do the fines near and on the belt.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the present invention provides a. novel dirt separator mechanism for separating the relatively small particles or fines of excavated material discharging from the end of an unloadingconveyor into a pile relatively close to the trench, and the coarser material and rocks into a pile further from the trench, thus providing for first back-filling the relatively fine" material into the excavation, and subsequent back-filling of the larger or coarser material.

The terms and expressions which have been utilized are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expres- 'sions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In combination, an endless unloading conveyor mechanism of an excavating machine and a dirt separator mechanism mounted on the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism, said conveyor mechanism including a frame and an endless belt, powered for lengthwise movement on the frame, said separator mechanism comprising a pair of laterally spaced brackets attached to the end of said frame of the conveyor mechanism, a generally vertically oriented dirt deflector plate pivotally mounted on said brackets in bridging relation thereto and extending transversely of the end of the conveyor, and means on said brackets and on said deflect-or plate adapted to receive releasable holding means, for maintaining said deflector plate in predetermined position with respect to said brackets and the upper stretch of the belt of said conveyor mechanism, said holding means being so disposed that the upper end of said deflector plate is always oriented at an elevation higher than the elevation of the upper stretch of said belt of said conveyor mechanism in all operative positions of said holding means.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflector plate is curved inwardly adjacent its upper end, said upper end being adapted to project into the stream of material discharging from the end of the unloading conveyor to separate particles of predetermined size and direct them along the underside of said deflector plate while permitting movement of the larger size particles of material over the deflector plate.

3. In combination, an excavating machine comprising an endless digging unit, an endless belt unloading conveyor mechanism mounted on said machine and adapted to receive excavated material from said digging unit and discharge it to a side of the machine, and a dirt separator mechanism mounted on the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism, said separator mechanism comprising a pair of laterally spaced mounting brackets secured to said conveyor mechanism, a generally vertically oriented deflector plate ivotally supported along a horizontal axis intermediate said brackets and extending transversely of said conveyor mechanism, said deflector plate including side flanges, openings in said flanges and openings in said mounting brackets, removable locking means received in corresponding aligned openings in said flanges and in said brackets for holding said deflector plate in selected position with respect to said brackets, the upper end of the deflector plate being disposed at an elevation above the level of the upper stretch of the belt of said conveyor mechanism in all locked positions of said deflector plate by said locking means, the deflector plate being adapted to extend at its upper end into the flow of spoil material to be discharged by the unloading mechanism and to separate the relatively fine material from the heavier particles of material, whereby the relatively fine particles of spoil material are discharged into a pile relatively close to the corresponding side of the trench while the relatively heavier particles of spoil material are discharged into a pile further from the corresponding side of the trench.

4. In combination, a powered endless belt type unloading conveyor of an excavating machine and a spoil separator mechanism attached to the discharge end of the conveyor, said separator mechanism comprising, a pair of laterally spaced brackets mounting said separator mechanism on the conveyor in outwardly spaced relation to the discharge end of the belt of the conveyor, generally vertically oriented deflector means pivotally mounted on said brackets, said deflector means comprising a plat-e like member having side flanges thereon, said side flanges having openings therethrough aligned with openings in said brackets and receiving detachable pivot means therethrough for pivotally mounting the deflector plate on said brackets along a generally horizontally extending axis, and means for locking said deflector plate in selected pivoted position with respect to said brackets, said locking means comprising apertures in the side flanges of said deflector plate adapted for disposal in alignment with a selected one of a plurality of apertures in each of said brackets, and receiving a removable holding pin therein, to thus hold said deflector plate in predetermined operative position with respect to said brackets, said locking means being disposed below said pivot means and being so arranged that the upper end of said deflector plate will always be disposed at a higher level than the level of the discharge end of the upper stretch of the belt of the conveyor in all locked positions of said deflector plate with respect to said brackets.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said deflector means is of curved configuration at its upper end.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said bracket members have inwardly facing bosses thereon encircling the respective pivot opening in each of said bracket members, and maintaining said deflector plate in spaced relation to the respective confronting surfaces of said bracket members and wherein said side flanges have outwardly facing bosses encircling the respective locking aperture therethrough and with the last mentioned bosses being of substantially the same thickness as the inwardly facing bosses of the pivot openings.

7. In combination a powered, endless belt type unloading conveyor of an excavating machine and a separator mechanism mounted on the discharge end of said conveyor, said mechanism comprising a generally vertically oriented deflector pivoted along a horizontal axis to said conveyor end in outwardly spaced relation to the belt and extending transversely .of said conveyor end, adjustable means coacting between said deflector and said conveyor for maintaining said deflector in selected pivoted position with respect to the conveyor end, the upper end of said deflector extending to a level above the level of the associated end of the upper stretch of the conveyor belt in all operative positions of said deflector, the deflector being adapted to extend at its upper end into the flow of material to be discharged by the unloading conveyor and to separate relatively fine material from heavier particles of material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morenus May 25, 1909 Devey et al. Dec. 10, 1912 Currie Dec. 17, 1918 Sylvest July 21, 1959 Cummings Aug. 2 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France of 1827 France of 1877 Great Britain of 1877 Sweden Sept. 1, 1953 Germany July 17, 1958 

3. IN COMBINATION, AN EXCAVATING MACHINE COMPRISING AN ENDLESS DIGGING UNIT, AN ENDLESS BELT UNLOADING CONVEYOR MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID MACHINE AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE EXCAVATED MATERIAL FROM SAID DIGGING UNIT AND DISCHARGE IT TO A SIDE OF THE MACHINE, AND A DIRT SEPARATOR MECHANISM MOUNTED ON THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID CONVEYOR MECHANISM, SAID SEPARATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED MOUNTING BRACKETS SECURED TO SAID CONVEYOR MECHANISM, A GENERALLY VERTICALLY ORIENTED DEFLECTOR PLATE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ALONG A HORIZONTAL AXIS INTERMEDIATE SAID BRACKETS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CONVEYOR MECHANISM, SAID DEFLECTOR PLATE INCLUDING SIDE FLANGES, OPENINGS IN SAID FLANGES AND OPENINGS IN SAID MOUNTING BRACKETS, REMOVABLE LOCKING MEANS RECEIVED IN CORRESPONDING ALIGNED OPENINGS IN SAID FLANGES AND IN SAID BRACKETS FOR HOLDING SAID DEFLECTOR PLATE IN SELECTED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRACKETS, THE UPPER END OF THE DEFLECTOR PLATE BEING DISPOSED AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE UPPER STRETCH OF THE BELT OF SAID CONVEYOR MECHANISM IN ALL LOCKED POSITIONS OF SAID DEFLECTOR PLATE BY SAID LOCKING MEANS, THE DEFLECTOR PLATE BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND AT ITS UPPER END INTO THE FLOW OF SPOIL MATERIAL TO BE DISCHARGED BY THE UNLOADING MECHANISM AND TO SEPARATE THE RELATIVELY FINE MATERIAL FROM THE HEAVIER PARTICLES OF MATERIAL, WHEREBY THE RELATIVELY FINE PARTICLES OF SPOIL MATERIAL ARE DISCHARGED INTO A PILE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF THE TRENCH WHILE THE RELATIVELY HEAVIER PARTICLES OF SPOIL MATERIAL ARE DISCHARGED INTO A PILE FURTHER FROM THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF THE TRENCH. 